>thanks naomi - sadly the mystery remains.
>
>i did set the window state to modal - which was an earler instruction of yours. i am wondering if it is anything to do with one of the form settings i am using.
>
>how exactly do i track if the form is released? the fact that it has disappeared is obviously not an indication.
>
>k

In your case of simple form I'm pretty sure it was released. The way to track if it was indeed released is to check _screen.Forms collection.